Veteran's Day

I think it's cool that Veteran's Day and Thanksgiving are in the same month. A month in which we can reflect on what we are thankful for. When we are thankful for the roof over our head, the food in our stomachs, our jobs, our families, our health or whatever it may be, we need to always be thankful to a Veteran.

Soldiers, Airmen, Marines, Seaman or the Coast Guard; they are all worthy of our thanks. Because of their sacrifices this country has sustained peace and tranquility for which we are thankful. Because of the Veteran we can be thankful for the roof over our head because we choose where we want to live instead of the government telling us where to live. We don't live in a Socialist or Communist country where we are told where to live, they provide the repairs to our homes and regulate our heat.

We can be thankful to the Veteran for the food in our stomachs not because they put it on the table but because it's available to us. We can choose what to buy. What to eat. What to indulge in. We are free to buy the food we like.

We can thank the Veteran, not our government for our jobs as we choose where we want to work, whether we stay or not, and how much money we want to make because we have an unlimited potential available to us. We can go to school to better ourselves. We can learn a trade to work in better jobs. We can also choose to do nothing and stay right where we are in our jobs. It's our choice.

We can thank the Veteran for our families as they fight for our freedom and stand guard in the night. This ensures we aren't ripped from each other's grip and put on a train to nowhere to be put to death or imprisoned!

We can thank a Veteran for our health as they also provide the freedom to make choices about our health. We can choose to eat well, see the doctor we want, the dentist we like and take medication we need. We can also choose to eat poorly, disregard our health and not visit the doctor or dentist.

Every choice we make or have available to us was made that way because of the sacrifices of a Veteran. Some served for a short time while others made it a career. Some went to battle and some never came home. Some sat at a desk their entire career while others suffered unimaginable pain. The sacrifice is all the same.

These individuals stand with pride on their day of induction and raise their right hand, swear on the bible to defend our country against all enemies; foreign and domestic. They leave their families for days, weeks and months on in. Some leave their families forever because they gave their life for their country.

They have worked long hours, trained hard for their jobs, focused on the mission, watched out for their battle buddy and stood the night watch so we can enjoy what we take for granted!

Whether you agree with me or not, take time to thank a Veteran. Actually look them in the eye, tell them thank you and say it with sincerity. It's not chore, it's an honor to do so.

All day long at work today, I said to each and every Soldier I encountered 'thank you for your service.' Whether it was over the phone, in person, or passing them on the sidewalk. I said thank you!

For my heroes on this approaching Veteran's Day:
Delbert Parshall, US Air Force - my father
Ivan Herchenbach, US Army - my brother -in-law
Garry Swingholm, US Navy - my father-in-law
Dan Reynolds, US Marines - Matt's uncle
Sonny Raabe, US Marines - my uncle
Stanley Tamillo, US Army - my grandfather (deceased 1991)
Patrick Lunkenheimer, US Army - my friend (deceased 2010)
Seth Olmstead, US Army Active Duty - my friend
The Soldiers of the 440th BSD and anyone associated with the unit, all our friends who serve or served
and
most of all, to my awesome husband, MAJ Matt Swingholm. The Army's best blood banker and the world's best husband!! My ultimate hero. One team. One fight. Total victory. Nothing less.